I was sad to be informed that the Gravesend ferry was no longer running (as that was my planned route back home.)....

Slow Ways Darren

People were chatty: the fisherman told me he was fishing for flat fish that come for the prawns by the Ebbsfleet creek, we discussed the water quality; and the HGV driver outside the Andrex factory told me he used to work there but doesn’t any more, but he still likes to park up his HGV next to the ‘no HGVs’ sign by the gates. The giant white brick photo, I assume this is paper waiting patiently outside to be turned into Andrex, although it doesn’t seem to be rain proofed....

Jane Taylor

Sadly the Tilbury - Gravesend ferry has stopped running, and it is no longer possible to do this route....

Jane Taylor

Sadly the Tilbury - Gravesend ferry has stopped running, and it is no longer possible to do this route....

Jane Taylor

Although there are good views up and down the river at times, is not always a pleasant walk along some of the industrial estate roads....

Andrew

The highlight is the foot (and cycle) passenger ferry between Tilbury and Gravesend. Tilbury is a port town, a lot of vehicles coming and going, and the route has to follow the approach road in places. At Tilbury ferry, pedestrian access is across a covered bridge with an exhibition, in glass, celebrating the people who arrived on ships at Tilbury to start a new life in England....

Jane Taylor

The contrast between Gravesend (traffic free town centre, independent shops, dedicated and well-signed ferry pontoon) and Tilbury (docks, cruise terminal, ‘A’ roads, ferry access a squeeze through a car park, signage fallen down) is extreme. 3 stars seems a bit harsh, but after the brilliant ferry the section on the A1089 approaching Tilbury Town station was pretty awful - a lot of large articulated port traffic, combined with a ‘park on the pavement’ attitude which forced me out into the road....

Jane Taylor

A walk to do for practical reasons rather than leisure fun....

Stephen Graham

The highlights, a way through Gravesend using small parks and quiet roads. I mostly walked in February 2023, from Gravesend to Sole St but then other parts during other walks, other seasons, while reviewing and testing other local Slow Ways routes....

Daisy C

Second half - 2 stars: Leaving the ferry it's impossible to avoid walking along the A1089 which had a steady stream of HGV traffic. But about halfway to Tilbury Town is a footbridge which you could take over to Dock Rd, a quieter residential road that's also a straight line to the station and would add barely any distance....

Daisy C

Accurate and decent route....

Stephen Graham

Accurate and decent route....

Stephen Graham

Accurate and decent route....

Stephen Graham

More scenic than Norgra1. Less traffic...

Stephen Graham

The route out of Gravesend is along quiet residential streets (photo #1), skirting the insides of a few parks (photo #2) as well, before a public footpath that comes out on more residential roads (photo #3). The other direction along a high bank was much nicer (photo #13), and after coming off the hill along a muddy path (photo #14), you end up in Longfield, where it is then a short stretch to the station....

Derick Rethans

There were many interesting things to see onland and I'm a sucker for views across the Thames, although it would be a bit more interesting, for me, with a bit more exposed mudflats and possibly wildlife....

Daisy C

On my final visit I talked to two locals around Southfleet who both said this route would be the best way between Southfleet and the A2 because the farmer is more reliable about restoring paths after ploughing etc....

Daisy C

Noisy roads through Gravesend, a long stretch of badly kept footpaths mid route and a scary road crossing at New Barn Road. I walked from Gravesend to Longfield on a late summer evening. The roads within Gravesend were busy and noisy, frustratingly the route avoids even some very simple parallel roads away from the traffic. The worst part was the crossing of New Barn Road. It was a steep jump off the bank and then I was in the road, no space on the road itself to stand or look both ways. From Southfleet onwards the route overlapped with the Slow Ways from Northfleet and Swanscombe which I've walked before....

Daisy C

I'm tempted to give this route 5 stars as I loved walking along the Thames and Medway Canal so much, and the other rural sections were pretty great too. I did not enjoy the Rochester end either, some route choices were strange and quite frustrating. * I avoided the Thames Path section as I thought it was closed until August. * The Thames and Medway Canal section really was wonderful. * Within Strood and Rochester I enjoyed the footpath beside the allotments, but couldn't understand the rest of the route. * At Rochester Bridge do cross over the road to the south side. You could change your route even earlier and approach the bridge using SolRoc 1, the waterside section and reflected lights were wonderful at dusk. * After the bridge you could stay south and swap the main road for Rochester High St then the La Providence footpath: very historic and beautiful with many restaurants, pretty shops, etc. If the Thames Path is still blocked and you use the official Milton Rd diversion this route has about 5km (3 miles) of road walking on primary or secondary (and cement plant access) roads....

Daisy C

The route from Gravesend Station to the A2 was entirely along the busy A227. There's a short bit of footpath down into the valley and up again to Park Hill which I haven't tested. Marc tested the same bit on HarSol 2, his review says "My wayfinding app had difficulty plotting the route from Nurstead Court towards Park Hill lane. On the other side of Wrotham Road the suggested footpath across the field has been ploughed over by the farmer and the footpath signs damaged -- I ended up following the edge of the field to reconnect to the route.". But New Barn Road is very busy and a bit faster than the 30mph it should be (see also HarGra 1), you have to cross somewhere between Fairlight Cross and Fawkham Avenue but the sightlines are spoilt by the curve of the hill and a bend....

Daisy C

Edited: If you'd like to walk and review this Slow Way, please consider GraSol 2 instead....

Daisy C

It follows the path of a busy overcliff road for the majority of the walk. It also requires you cross a few fairly busy road junctions, though there are pedestrian crossings at all these points....

marc

A very tall metal gate has been welded to the end of the passageway that cuts through to Wharf road. You need to go around Norfolk road to get onto Wharf road. From then on the walk along the canal and through the fields was magnificent....

bobmatt3

This route relies on the ferry crossing...

bobmatt3

It looked like there may have been a straighter route across fields after crossing Brompton Farm Road but the indicated route was a nice walk....

Karsco